Antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity of aqueous extract of Carica papaya

Over centuries, Carica papaya (papaya) has been used as a nutritious and medicinal plant. In view of its medicinal uses, our group focused on aqueous leaves extract of papaya and tried to determine its antimicrobial (using bacterial strains i.e. gram positive and gram negative ones) and anti-inflammatory (virally infected human whole blood) activities. The protein content of the plant and its secondary metabolites were also analysed qualitatively.
The protein content from aqueous leaves extract of C. papaya was quantified using Nanodrop method. ELISA studies were conducted in order to determine the antibody production against ovalbumin (OVA) using papaya aqueous leaves extract. Also, its antigen specific proliferation in virally infected human whole blood samples was determined through MTT assay. In addition, antimicrobial studies (using gram positive and gram negative strains) and cytotoxicity were also studied.
The aqueous leaves extract of papaya showed enhancement in protein content and also raised antibody production against OVA. In addition, aqueous extract also showed decline in bacterial population and proliferation rate at higher doses as compared to control group. In contrast, aqueous extract showed anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities at higher doses.
The aqueous leaves extract of papaya plant showed anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities. Hence, it might be used for preparation of a new drug for these purposes.